Sheikh Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Qasim, the Imam and Preacher of the Prophet’s Mosque, spoke in his Friday sermon about the blessing of children, explaining that they are among the greatest blessings that God has bestowed upon His servants, a divine gift that God favored some of His prophets with, citing His saying concerning Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him): "And We granted him Yahya" (Quran 19:12), emphasizing that the righteousness of children is achieved through their proper upbringing, instilling faith and values in their hearts, and caring for them according to the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah.

His Eminence explained that children are glad tidings that bring joy and happiness to the hearts of parents, citing God’s glad tidings to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in His saying: "So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy" (Quran 37:101), pointing out their great status, as God swore by the parent and his offspring in His saying: "And by the parent and that which he begot" (Quran 90:3), and made them an adornment of worldly life, as He said: "Wealth and children are the adornment of the worldly life" (Quran 18:46).

He clarified that children are a trust upon parents, consisting of preserving their religion, building their morals, guiding their behavior, and safeguarding their innate disposition, noting that the prophets (peace be upon them) used to ask God for righteous offspring even before their existence, as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed to his Lord saying: "My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer and [many] among my descendants" (Quran 14:40), and Zakariya (peace be upon him) prayed: "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring" (Quran 3:38).

He added that among God’s favors is that He created children with an innate disposition of faith in Him, citing the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Every child is born upon the Fitrah" (Sahih Muslim), stressing that the first steps in their upbringing are to establish Tawheed (monotheism) in their souls, strengthen faith in their hearts, teach them the Book of God (the Quran), accustom them to prayer, connect their hearts to God, and instill reliance and trust in Him in all their affairs.

The Imam and Preacher of the Prophet’s Mosque explained that a complete upbringing includes making them aware of the rights of others, foremost of which is kindness to parents, and raising them with determination and high aspiration, citing God’s saying: "O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination. And We gave him judgment [while yet] a boy" (Quran 19:12).

He pointed out that part of complete upbringing is good treatment of children, kindness towards them, and making them feel love and attention, citing the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) gentleness with children, greeting them, showing affection, and teaching them manners and morals, as in his saying to Umar ibn Abi Salama (may God be pleased with him): "O boy, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

He explained that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to discover and develop the talents of young people, was keen to teach them their religious matters, honor them, and elevate their status, emphasizing the importance of children and the need to care for them and build their personalities. He stressed that supplicating for the righteousness of children is among the greatest things that benefit them, which is why the prophets and righteous people were keen on it, including the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) supplication for Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him) when he was a boy: "O Allah, teach him the Book" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

He noted that the righteousness of children is a delight to the eyes of parents, and its effect extends to them in this world and the Hereafter, explaining that among the greatest things from which parents benefit after their death is a righteous child who prays for them, citing the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him" (Sahih Muslim). He clarified that God raises the ranks of parents in Paradise due to the righteousness of their children and their seeking forgiveness for them, and He brings together the righteous among parents and children.

The Imam and Preacher of the Prophet’s Mosque affirmed that caring for children is a shared responsibility between parents, and their righteousness is the fruit of family cooperation in upbringing and care, citing the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "And the woman is a shepherd in her husband's house and is responsible for her flock" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

He concluded his sermon by calling for patience in raising children, not despairing of reforming and correcting them, and warning against supplicating against them, as that carries great danger, citing the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Do not supplicate against yourselves, do not supplicate against your children, do not supplicate against your wealth, lest you coincide with an hour in which Allah grants requests, and He answers you" (Sahih Muslim).